Automatic pump



1 R. s. WHITTINGTON ,9

' AUTOMATIC PUMP Filed June 17, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l i n I l i V n r i I g I @l I! i ATTORNEYS Jan. 2, 1934. R38. W HITTIN-ITON AUTOMATIC PUMP Filed June 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5541111 5 Mhflbhgfpn ATTORN Y5 Patented Jan, 2, 1934 of operations.

AUTOMATIC PUMP Ralph s. Whittington,

Oak Park, 111., assignor, b7"

mesne assignments, to The Farval Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 17, 1931. Serial No. 545,045 14 Claims. (01. 18429) The present invention pertains to a novel automatic pump, especially for lubricants, operated by fluid pressure means at regular intervals and usually at a comparatively low frequency.

The principal object of the invention is to pro vide a device of this character which will automatically deliver lubricant to the bearings of a machine without the aid of an attendant. The invention is especially adaptable for use on automobiles wherein the motive fluid for the pump is the oil contained in the crank-case under continuous pressure. The pump in such an installation would be operated automatically at intervals while the motor is running. An adjustable device is provided for regulating 'thefrequency This pump is also applicable to industrial machinery where the operating pressure may be derived, for example, from the pump which supplies cutting compound to the tool of a metal working machine, or from a small auxil- 1ary pump.

The invention further embodies means for compensating or ofisetting the tendency of the pump to increase its frequency as the actuating fluid becomes diluted.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example, in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device, partly-in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail section in the same plane as Fig. 3, showing the parts in different position;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of. the check valve in the pressure line,

Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modified construction, and

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sections of modified forms of seepage valves.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which areemployed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown more clearly in Figure 1, the device embodies a cylinder 1 having a closed upper end 2 and a base 3 inserted in the lower end thereof. The base serves to support a tube 4 extending axially into the cylinder and constituting a loading chamber as will presently appear. A dis ing with the several bearings to be lubricated, preferably through measuring valves. 4

A piston '7 is slidably mounted in the cylinder 1 and is formed with an upwardly extending boss 8 fitted at its upper end with a cap 9. A rod 10 is secured to the cap and extends into the tube 4 in order to slide in the tube on actuation of the piston 7 as will presently appear. The rod 10 carries a small piston 11 working in the tube 4. I

On the base 3 is also mounted a suitable'reservoir 12 for oil or grease. The reservoir is brought into communication with the passage 5 and tube 4 through a port 13 formed in the base. In the port is formed a valve seat 14 adapted to be closed by a valve 15 therebeneath and mounted on a spring 16. The position of the valve is such that it opens on the occurrence of a higher pressure in the reservoir than in the passage 5 and closes under the opposite conditions.

The pressure intake to the cylinder 1 beneath the piston 7 is in the form of a passage 17 drilled through the base 3 and communicating with the lower partof the cylinder 1 through a duct 18 as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. One end of this passage is threaded at 19 for connection by means of a coupling to a source of fluid under pressure, such as the crank-case of an automobile, the pump for supplying cutting compound to the tool of a metal working machine, or a small auxiliary pump. A screen or filter 20 is preferably provided in the inlet to the passage 1'7. The

' opposite end of the passage is closed by a plug 21.

The passage 17 contains a substantially cylindrical plunger 22 having a slight taper of about .005 inch towards the advance end 23 thereof. The other end is adapted to bear against an adjustment screw 24 threaded through the plug 21, and the slotted 'head 25 of the screw is preferably pr tected by a cap 26 mounted on the plug.

The Sassage of lubricant from the source to the duct 18 is obviously restricted by the plunger 22 in the chamber 17. The restriction is.increased by moving the plunger nearer the screen 20, and the rate of flow is thereby decreased. The previously mentioned taper of. the plunger enables a greater variation in the restriction, for a given travel of the plunger, than aperfectly cylindrical plunger. Obviously the same result may be obtained with a cylindrical plunger in a tapered bore. The adjustment of the screw 24 obviously determines the position of the plunger under intake pressure.

'At any setting of the adjustment screw 24, it

contacts with the plunger 22 only while pressure is being applied at theinlet port 19. The parts I is compressed when the piston rises.

are so proportioned that at this time the plunger 22 is a predetermined distance from its seat or shoulder in the bore in which it travels. Thus when pressure is relieved at the pump inlet, the pressure inside the pump cylinder exerts a 'downward force through port 18, causing plunger 22 to be forced to its seat adjacent to inlet port 20. When pressure is again applied to port 20, plunger 22 again moves back to engage or contact the adjustment screw 24, which gives a wiping action to the plunger, and this automatically-tends to prevent a stoppage of this passage by the formation of an oil film or any fine impurities which might be contained in the hydraulic fluid.

This 'is an-essential feature of the construction 'of the device in that the control plunger 22 really a check valve when seated during the time it is idle, thus trapping whatever oil might be contained in the inner cylinder and causing the pump to discharge lubricant at equal intervals of operating time of the machine, whether the machine is operated intermittently or continuously.

The lower face of the piston '7 carries a series of split lugs 27, preferably three in number and arranged in a circle concentric with the axis of the piston. In each of these lugs is pivotally mounted a lever 28 for a purpose which will presently appear. The lugs are surrounded by an operating plate 29 slidably mounted thereon and adapted to bear downwardly on the levers to move them to the position shown in Fig. 4. Each lever has a pair of fingers 30 connected to the fingers of adjacent levers by springs 31, so that when the points of connection between the fingers and springs enter a plane above or below that of the pivotal points of the levers, the springs function as a snap action to positively throw the levers into their limit position above or below the pivotal plane as will presently appear.

Over the plate 29 in turn is mounted a valve frame 32 also slidable on the lugs. This member carries valves 33 of suitable material adapted to close against ports 34 drilled completely through the body of the piston 7. The member 32 is further formed with depending slotted guide members 35 for the levers 28. The lower end of each guide is closed at 35' to be struck by the corresponding lever 28, when the valves are thrown to open position.

A stop ring 36 is secured on the upper end of the tube 4 within the boss 8 and is engaged by the plate 29 on upward movement of the piston '7 to move levers 28 and open the valves 33 as will presently appear.

Upon the piston 7 is mounted a spring'37 whibh The fluid above the piston is relieved through a drain pipe 38 fixed in the base 3 and having a return connection to the low pressure side of the pressure source. The pipe preferably has a sliding fit in the piston, providing a slight clarance as indicated by the numeral 39 for a purpose presently to be described. It may be pointed out in this connection that the fluid for operating the piston '7, although usually a lubricant, is not the lubricant to be delivered to the bearings. The latter lubricant is contained in the reservoir 12 and is delivered to the tube .4 and discharged from the latter through the passage 5 and coupling 6 as already indicated. The reservoir 12 has a cap 40 which may be removed for filling purposes.

In the operation of the device, the piston is raised by the admission of a pressure fluid through the adjustably restricted passage 17. The spring 3'? obviously stores up energy as the piston rises, and the fluid above the piston is relieved through the pipe 38. During the rise of the piston, the ports 34 are closed as shown in Fig. 3. The simultaneous upward movement of the piston 11 in the tube 4 causes a diminution of pressure beneath the piston, with the result that the check valve 15 is opened under the superior pressure in the reservoir 12,. and the space below the piston 11 is filled with lubricant from the reservoir. When the plate 29 comes into contact with the fixed stop 36, a continued upward movement of the piston causes a downward pressure on the plate 29 and levers 28, and when the ends of the springs 31 are in a plane below thepivotal plane of the levers, they serve to draw the levers downwardly with a snap action. The levers, on striking the stops 35', pull the frame 32 downwardly and open the ports 34 as shown in Fig. 4.

.The springs 31 must be strong enough to exerta downward force on frame 32 greater than the upward force of the hydraulic pressure in the chamber below piston 7.

The opening of the ports 34 balances the fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston 7, and the compressed spring 37 therefore moves the piston downwardly. The corresponding movement of the piston 11 in the tube 4 increases the fluid pressure therebeneath, permits closing of the check valve 15 and discharges the contents of the tube 4 into the line to. the bearings. The levers 28 approach and finally engage a bottom stop 41 formed in the base 3 and serving to retard the levers, plate 29 and frame 32 while the pivotal plane of the levers continues to' descend with the piston.- When-the connecting points between the springs 31 and fingers 30 are in a plane above'the pivotal plane of the levers, the

springs throw the levers upwardly with a snap action whereupon the frame 32 is carried towards the piston and the valves 33 closed against the ports 34. The continuous fluid pressure, now having no outlet from the space beneath the piston 7, raises the piston; and the previous described cycle is repeated.

A valve seat 42 is formed in the passage 5 at a point between the tube 4 and coupling 6. A valve 43 in the shape of a hexagon or the like is adaptecPto close the passage when engaging the seat 42 and opens the passage when moved away from the seat by pressure inthe tube 4. The valve is normally held against its seat by a spring 44 opposing'the pressure in the tube 4 and of only sufiicient magnitude to resist draining of the tube 4 and passage 5 by gravity.

The valve 43 has an axial port 45 normally closed by a button 46 drawn against the port by a spring 4'7 acting oppositely to the spring 44. The port is obviously closed by pressure beneath the piston 11. When the valve 43 is closed by relief of pressure in the tube 4, the button 46 is free to open to relieve any back pressure or accumulated pressure trapped in the line. The pressure necessary to open the button 46, however, is greater than the suction necessary to open the valve 15, so that suction in the tube 4 will open valve 15 rather than draw from the line attached to the coupling 6.

The check valve 15 may contain a porous insert 48 consisting of any suitable material which is at least slightly pervious to the lubricant.

Thus, in the event that the bearings are frozen or that the measuring valves thereof are fully discharged before the piston 11 reaches the bottom of its stroke, the lubricant which would otherwise be trapped beneath the piston 11 and in the passage 5 is returned to the reservoir 12. The permeability of the member 48 to the lubricant is such, however, that in normal operation the lubricant ejected by the piston 11. ,will be forced into the bearings before seeping through the insert 48.

In the use of heavy-fluids that'are likely to load up and plug a porous member, a solid metal valve 50, such as that shown in Fig. 8, is used instead of the composite shown in Fig. 3. The face of the valve 50 is either roughened to form an imperfect seat or formed with a transverse I groove 51 which provides a slow leak, permitting the return of lubricant to the reservoir 12 in much the same manner as a piece of felt. An alternative construction forthe same purpose is shown in Fig. 9 where the valve 52 has a small orifice 53 extending from end to end and permitting seepage in the manner described in connection with Fig. 8. I

In the event that the pressure fluid becomes diluted, it will travel through the passage 1'7 at a greater rate, for a given adjustment of the plunger 22, and thus tend to operate the plunger 7 more rapidly, the frequency of which depends on the rate of flow permitted by the plunger. The loose or sliding fit of the pipe 38 in the piston offsets this tendency, inasmuch as a diluted fluid will leak through the clearance 39 to the upper side of the piston and will return through the pipe 38 without having done any work in raising the piston. The raising of the piston is in other words retarded in a degree directly proportional to the dilution of the pressure fluid.

Figure '7 illustrates another means of relieving the space above the piston 7, but without the compensating effect previously described. The drain or return pipe 38 is merely carried through the reservoir 12 without passing through the piston.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from thescope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is: V v

1. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, 2. check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at that side of the piston therein at which such pressure fluid effects an intake stroke of the other piston, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having a port therethrough; a valve for said port carried by said piston, means for respectively opening and closing said valve 2. An automatic lubricating device comprising ,an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder,

pistons working respectively in said cylinders and said piston having ports therethrough, a valve connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to'said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir vand charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having a port therethrough, a valve for said port carried by said piston, means for opening said valve at the end of the intake stroke of the piston in the charging cylinder and for closing said valve at the end of the discharge stroke of said last named piston, and means for reversing the direction of the first named piston on the opening of said valve.

3. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charg-. 1J0 ing cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at that side of the piston therein at which such pressure fluid effects an intake stroke of the other piston,

pressure relief means from the opposite side of 135' ing cylinder and for closing said valveIat the 113 end of the discharge stroke of said last named piston, and yielding means in said operating cylinder for reversing the direction of the first named piston on theopening ofsaid valve.

4. An automaticlubricating device comprising 113 an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, .a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from ,said charging-cylinder, a check valve be- 2L tween said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fiuid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston hav ing a port therethrough, a valve for said 'port carried by said piston, means for respectively opening and closing said valve near the ends of opposite strokes of said-piston, yielding means 132 in said operating cylinder for reversing the direction of said piston on the opening of said valve, and an insert in said check valve slowly permeable by the fiuid contained in said reservoir.

5. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet 14'. means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging ,cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the'admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, a relief pipe fixed in said operating cylinder, passing through the piston therein with a slight clearance and having one end open at the opposite side of said piston, 1:

charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure ,to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, a relief pipe fixed in said operating cylinder, passing through the piston therein with a slight clearance and having.

one end open at the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, a valve for said ports carried by said piston, means for respectively opening and closing said valve near the ends of opposite strokes of said piston, yielding means in said operating cylinder for reversing the .direction of said piston onthe opening of said valve, and means for adjustably restricting said fluid pressure admission means.

7. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder,

pistons working respectively in said cylinders and.

connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, a relief pipe fixed in said operating cylinder, passing through the piston therein with a slight clearance and having one end open at the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, a valve for said ports carried by said piston, means for respectively opening and closing said valve near the ends of opposite strokes of said piston, yielding means in said operating cylinder for reversing the direction of said piston on the opening of said valve, a plunger in and restricting said fiuid pressure admission means, and means for adjusting the'efiective restricting length of said plunger.

-8. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, levers pivotally carried by said piston, a valve member for said ports slidably carried by said piston and operable by said levers in either direction of movement of 9. An automatic lubricating device comprising.

an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, levers pivotally carried by said piston, a valve member for said ports slidably carried by said piston and operable by said levers in either direction of movement of the latter, stops for actuating said levers in opposite directions near the ends of opposite strokes of said piston, snap-action springs interconnecting said levers, and yieldable means in said operating cylinder for reversing the direction of said piston on opening of said valves.

10. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said-cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder,- outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fl'uid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston .therein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, levers pivotally carried by said piston, a valve member for said ports slidably carried by said piston and operable by said levers in either direction of movement of the latter, stops for moving said levers in the valve-opening direction at the end of the intake stroke of the piston in the charging cylinder and for'moving said levers in valve-closing direction at the end of the discharge stroke of said last named piston, and yieldable means in said operating cylinder for reversing the direction of said piston on opening of said valves.

11. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and .charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the pistontherein, pressure relief means from the opposite side of said piston, said piston having ports therethrough, levers pivotally carried by said piston, a valve member for said ports slidably carried by said piston and operable by said levers in either direction of movement of the latter, stops for moving said levers in the valve-opening direction at the end of the intake stroke of the piston in the charging cylinder and for moving said levers in valveclosing direction at the end of the discharge stroke of said, last named piston, and snapaction springs interconnecting said levers.

12. Adautomatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylindersand connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, a check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate'on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluidpressure to said operating cylinder at that side of said" piston therein at which such fluid pressure'efiects an intake stroke of the other piston, a spring at the opposite side of said piston and adapted to accumulate energy by displacement of said piston under fluid pressure,

tween said reservoir and charging cylinder adapted to operate on relief of pressure in saidcharging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at one side of the piston therein, a spring at the opposite side of said piston-and adapted to accumulate energy by displacement of said piston under fluid pressure, pressure relief means from the last named side of said piston, said piston having a port therethrough, a valve for said port carried by said piston, and means for opening said valve at the end of the intake stroke of the piston in the charging cylinder and for closing said valve at the end of the discharge stroke of said last named piston.

14. An automatic lubricating device comprising an operating cylinder and a charging cylinder, pistons working respectively in said cylinders and connected together, a lubricant reservoir connected to said charging cylinder, outlet means from said charging cylinder, 13. check valve between said reservoir and charging cylinder :adapted to operate on relief of pressure in said charging cylinder, means for the admission of fluid pressure to said operating cylinder at that side of said piston therein-at which such fluid pressure effe'cts an intake stroke of the other piston, a spring at the opposite side of said piston and adapted to accumulate energy by displace ment of said piston under fluid pressure, pres sure relief means from the last named side of said piston, said piston having a port there-- through, a valve for said port carried by said piston, and means for opening said valve at the end of the intake stroke of the piston in the charging cylinder and for closing said valve at the end of the discharge stroke of said last named K piston.

. RALPH S. WHI'I'IING'I'ON. 

